From the coast up in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, comes my personal comic book blog, primarily related to comic books, as well as movies, books and television. BeachBumComics blog can also be found on Facebook & Pinterest.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

You never knew where Steve Ditko would pop up at times (like Wally Wood for that matter.)

Another Ditko cover for Blue Ribbon #1, heavily inked by Rudy Nebres!

Archie Comics published The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents for a short while. The previous year several comics had been published
by JC Comics with new and reprint stories, including one NoMan cover by Steve Ditko with inks by Willie Blyberg.

Here's a recap of NoMan's origin!

Original artwork for the splash page!

Blue Ribbon #12,
"The Making Of A
Monster"NoMan goes
to a remote island after getting a letter from Wildey, an unstable old
associate (who isn't aware of his current robotic state). On the island
he finds that his old friend has set himself up as a modern Doctor
Moreau, creating hybrid beasts in out of control genetic experiments,
and buying human slaves to experiment on.
Written by by John Carbonaro and Charlie Boatner with art by Steve Ditko and inks by Willie Blyberg.

Great work by Ditko in this one, with complementary Blyberg's inks. The strange
creatures are classic Ditko. That faceless gorilla is just creepy, and that horned cat
looks like something out of Watchmen a few years later. There are some
good action scenes of
NoMan fighting them.

How the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents story began!

Definitely one of the better examples of Ditko's
commercial work in the mid-80s, this issue is well worth picking up, if you see a copy.

Nice profile of NoMan from Wally Wood!

A favorite T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents story of mine, from Paul Gulacy!

The only issue Solson came out with, unfortunately not one of the most memorable!

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

I really enjoyed the delightful Cat & Mouse series, originally published by Silverline Comics and picked up by Aircel Comics soon thereafter. It was a bit of the Silver Age of comics. Roland (Arrow, Battletech) Mann quickly became a favorite writer of mine, along with the great art of Mitch (Green Lanter, Shi) Byrd. What first caught my eye was the fabulous Paul (Master of Kung Fu, Star Wars) Gulacy cover. The black & white series ran for 18 terrific issues.

Promo for the only Silverline Comics issue!

Cat & Mouse #1

Silverline Comics only issue.

One of my favorite Paul Gulacy covers!

Cat & Mouse #1

"A Game of Cat & Mouse"

Demon (Keith Greyson) gets mixed up with Cat (Jerry O'Neil) & Mouse (Mandy Paige),
thieves working for the Yakuza. Yakuza and Mafia are vieing for control
of New Orleans. The Mafia frames Cat & Mouse for the murder of a
cop. Learning the Yakuza knew about this and did not warn them, Cat
& Mouse 'quit' the Yakuza and go independent. Jerry also quits the
police force.

This story also serves as an origin for Demon.

Cat & Mouse #2

"Homecoming"

When the police fail to capture Cat & Mouse, the Yakuza call in Tooth & Nail.

Begins Steve Butler covers.

Cat & Mouse #3

"The Lady Wore Black"

Kunoichi, who trained Cat & Mouse, comes
by to warn them about Tooth & Nail being called in. Demon tries to
fight her. The individuals who will be trained to become Skull &
Crossbones are introduced.

Demon vs Kunoichi, Part 1.

Cat & Mouse #4

"Some Tails are Going to Roll"

Demon vs Kunoichi, Part 2.

Last Steve Butler cover.

Cat & Mouse #5

"Working 11 to 7 Really Makes Life a Drag"

Tooth & Nail work their way down a list, eliminating cops working for the Mafia.

Begins Mitch Byrd covers, for the rest of the series.

Another great cover from Mitch Byrd!

Cat & Mouse #6

"What Is and Never Should Be"

Claude tries to talk Jerry into rejoining the police force.

Cat & Mouse #7

"Don't Lose Your Head"

Cat & Mouse search for evidence to clear themselves. Claude decides he wants out of the Mafia, and is killed.

Cat confronts Rossman and reveals his identity to him. The newly trained team of Skull & Crossbones are given their names.

Cat & Mouse #10

"Take Hold of the Flame"

Cat prevents Tooth & Nail from eliminating Rossman, for now.

"Unofficial Observer"

Good and bad cops on a stakeout.

Cat & Mouse #11

"Into the Fire" Jerry is still trying to clear his name.
Rossman receives another visit from Tooth & Nail. Mandy and Keith
take in Mardi Gra.

Cat & Mouse #12

"Dead on Time"

Cat takes on Tooth & Nail to save Rossman's baby.

Death of Nail.

Cat & Mouse #13

"Good Times, Bad Time"

Jerry is in critical care in the hospital.
Keith tries to get Mandy's mind off of Jerry's condition. They take in a
live rock band performance.

Only issue not done by Mitch Byrd.

One of my favorite exotic covers in the series!

Cat & Mouse #14

"Bullets to Spare"

Cat
attempts to steal the money needed for Jerry's medical bills. Champion
wanders the streets of Chicago. Rossman asks Cat for the bullets she
holds as evidence. He plans to testify against the Mob.

Cat & Mouse #15

"Keep Yourself Alive"

Rossman turns state's evidence against the
mob. The relationship heats up between Mandy and Keith. Champion is
hired to go to New Orleans.

Cat & Mouse with Demon illustration.

Sneaking in a fantastic Steve Butler cover!

Cat & Mouse #16

"Without Warning"Jerry's kidney's are failing, so Mandy asks
for Kunoichi's aid in obtaining a replacement. Tooth is hired to kill a
yakuza leader in exchange for a return engagement with Cat. Rossman is
shot, and believed killed, but he is quietly taken away to South Dakota.

Cat & Mouse #17

"Ridin' the Storm Out"

Kunoichi protects Kimimada from Tooth. Tooth
dies. Mr Ruggier brings in Champion from Chicago for an unstated
purpose. Kunoichi teams up with Mandy to protect Jerry, but Skull &
Crossbones get to him first. Demon seeks information about the cult of
Abaddon.

Terrific simple, athletic Mitch Byrd cover!

Cat & Mouse #18

"This is the End"

Mandy and Kunoichi agree to kill Kimimada to
get Jerry back. Jerry gets his kidney transplant. Mandy chooses to go
back and investigate the hospital she got the kidney from. Demon and
Champion (out of costume) meet.

Adventure comics published further Demon's adventures in Demon's Tails #1. Written by Roland (Ex-Mutants, Eliminator) Mann with art by Paul (Guardians of the Galaxy) Pelletier. Missed this one, on my radar now. Love to read Ronald Mann again!

Two collections of Cat & Mouse were published. They reprinted the first eight issues of the Aircel Comics series. I believe I came across one of these books for my collection, but still missing one. Hmm.

Cat & Mouse Collection 2!

This was a great series, fun, exciting, dynamic writing and fantastic art. I would highly recommend it, you'll probably find them in bargain bins. Good Times!

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Dandy Steve Ditko's stunning illustrations of Captain Universe appeared in Marvel Spotlight #9-#11 (the last three issues of the series.) Captain Universe co-creator Bill Mantlo wrote these stories. Michael Golden was the other creator, from their time on Micronauts. Steve Coffin, from Marvel Spotlight #9, first appeared in The Micronauts #8.

The Uni-Power is an extra-dimensional force that possesses an
individual (or on one occasion, twins) in a time of crisis, transforming
that person into Captain Universe. The transformed
person retains his or her original personality and
appearance, though the costume and heroic traits
superimposed over the original. The Uni-Power itself emanates from the
Enigma Force, the exact nature of which, naturally, remains an enigma.
It is believed, however, to be connected to the Microverse, home of the Micronauts.

The first human Captain Universe was an astronaut, Captain Ray Coffin, who battled Baron Karza and sealed the Prometheus Pit between the Microverse and Earth.Years later, the Uni-Power would possess his son Steve Coffin to battle Mister E and his shadow slaves. It next possessed identical twins Ann Stafford and Clare Dodgson to capture Nemesisand then possessed small-time cat burglar Monty Walsh to stop mafia don Guido Carboni.

Captain Universe possesses superhuman strength and durability, can fly, project energy blasts, rearrange
matter (forming various weapons and equipment, like a pair of nunchaks, a
skateboard, etc.), and remotely activate equipment and/or charge it with power.
His Univsion allows him to analyze the composition of beings or objects. He
can survive in the vacuum of space and pass through solid objects at will.

WEIRD TALES OF THE MACABRE #1

MARVEL PREMIERE #44 FEATURING THE JACK OF HEARTS!

After effecting a rescue at sea, Jack of Hearts is going home, to his estate in Connecticut. Once there, he receives an ominous invitation from Hemlock. Written by Bill Mantlo with art by Keith Giffen & Rudy Nebres. Recommended!

I SPY BY JOHN TIGER

Exciting tie-in novel by Walter (Telefon) Wager, writing as John Tiger, based on the smash TV hit series I Spy.

I SPY MESSAGE FROM MOSCOW BY BRANDON KEITH

Recommended I Spy novel by author of Man from U.N.C.L.E. The Gentle Saboteur Affair & The Affair of the Goldrunner's Gold.

CHARLTON PREMIERE #2 "CHILDREN OF DOOM"

One of my all time favorite comic book stories, by Denny O'Neil & Pat Boyette. Stunnning! Partially in B&W and color!